Bright Jupiter shines as a Morning Star in the southeast this morning with Mars nearby. In two mornings, Jupiter passes the star for the first of three times (triple conjunction) during this appearance. On Thursday morning they are one-half degree apart. That is the apparent diameter of the moon in the sky. This morning they are 0.75 degree apart.

Mars continues its steady eastward march. It passes Jupiter on January 7. It has moved nearly 12 degrees since it passed Spica. This morning the planets are 8.25 degrees apart.

The articles that follow provide details about the planets visible without optical assistance (binoculars or telescope):